Chelsea
host Brighton on Boxing Day looking to bounce back from their goalless draw
with Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The champions are now 16 points behind leaders Manchester City at the
halfway stage.
However, Antonio Conte and Co head into Tuesday afternoon's clash in good
form having won eight of their last 11 league games.
The Italian will also be boosted by the return of striker Alvaro Morata, who
missed Saturday's trip to Merseyside through suspension.
And Chelsea's coach will expect his team to get the better of a Brighton
side who may currently sit in a creditable 12th position in the table in
their debut Premier League campaign, but have won just twice on their
travels so far this season.
Team news
Chelsea are expected to recall Morata to lead the line after he served a
one-match ban against Everton. The Spaniard, the Blues' top scorer in the
Premier League with nine goals, served a one-game ban against Everton having
accrued five yellow cards and he will be expected to slot straight back into
the team.
Cesc Fabregas and Davide Zappacosta could feature if Conte opts to make
changes
However, David Luiz, who has been linked with a January exit from Stamford
Bridge, continues to be sidelined with a knee injury, while Charly Musonda
is also unavailable due to a groin strain.
Brighton, meanwhile, will have central defender Shane Duffy back after he
missed Saturday's 1-0 home win against Watford through suspension.
Midfielder Steve Sidwell (knee) remains Chris Hughton's only injury absentee
for the trip to west London.
Opta stats
Chelsea have won all four of their previous league games against Brighton,
though this will be the first such meeting since March 1989 in the second
tier.
Brighton have failed to score in the last three of their four league games
against the Blues, which includes both matches at Stamford Bridge.
Indeed, Brighton's only victory in any competition against Chelsea came in
their first such meeting - 2-1 in an FA Cup tie in January 1933.
This will be the first top-flight meeting between these sides - Brighton
will be Chelsea's 60th different opponent in the top tier of English
football.
Merson's prediction
Brighton did well on Saturday (in beating Watford 1-0), they just do not put
their chances away. Chris Hughton must sit there on tenterhooks - he needs
to watch a game where he can relax for once! I watched them against Burnley
when they should have been two or three up, but missed a penalty, drew 0-0
and were hanging on at the end. On Saturday they had chance after chance to
kill the game, while Chelsea were unlucky against Everton, let's be honest,
they should have won. Brighton have got bigger games over Christmas than
this and you will find some teams will rest players for bigger games. With
three games coming up really quickly, you are not going to put all your
first-team players out in this game, get beat 3-0 and then they are all
tired for the big games coming up.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
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